Thousands packed the area in front of the stage, drawing a headliner-sized crowd for a mid-day set on Friday, when many people were just arriving at the festival.

"It was awesome, there were people as far as my eyes could see," lead singer Brittany Howard said after the show.

I know she said this because I bumped into her in front of The Hangout about an hour after the band's set ended. She was sitting on the retaining wall in the shade of the restaurant, with guitar in hand and green visor cocked to one side, chatting with fans, cheesing it up for pictures taken with cell phones.

As much as the band's strong performance that day, I'll remember Howard's easy interaction with "longtime" fans and those who were hearing the band for the first time that day, and seeing a rock star act like a regular person.

Remember to visit AL.com/hangout for complete coverage of the Hangout Music Festival, which runs May 17-19 in Gulf Shores. You'll find news and updates about this year's festival, as well as photos, video and more from last year.

What are your favorite memories from Hangout Fest? Share your thoughts in the comments below.